What Is an IMC?
Intermodal Marketing Company Explained.

The Short Answer

An Intermodal Marketing Company (IMC) is a company that holds direct contracts with Class I railroads and sells intermodal transportation services to shippers and 3PL partners. IMCs coordinate the full door-to-door move — origin drayage, rail transit, and destination drayage — under one roof, with one point of contact, using railroad-direct capacity and pricing.

The term "IMC" is a federally recognized designation. IMCs are registered with and regulated by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) — the federal agency that oversees railroad transportation in the United States.

What IMCs Actually Do

When a shipper wants to move freight by intermodal rail, they have a problem: the railroad doesn't manage trucks. The railroad moves containers from ramp to ramp — but getting the container to and from those ramps requires local drayage carriers at each end. Coordinating all of this requires specialized knowledge, established relationships, and direct access to railroad capacity.

That's what an IMC does. A full-service IMC handles:

• Origin drayage — arranging the local truck that picks up the container and brings it to the rail ramp
• Railroad booking — securing capacity on the right train through direct railroad contracts
• Rail transit — managing the container from origin ramp to destination ramp
• Destination drayage — arranging the local truck that picks up the container at the destination ramp and delivers it to the consignee
• Documentation and tracking — managing all paperwork and providing real-time visibility throughout the move
• Single invoice — billing the complete door-to-door move as one transaction

IMC vs. Freight Broker — The Critical Difference

This is the most important distinction in intermodal freight — and the one most shippers don't understand until it costs them money. On the surface, an IMC and a freight broker offering intermodal can look identical. They both quote rates. They both arrange moves. They're often described the same way. But the structural difference is enormous.

Here's what that looks like in practice on a real lane:

The dollar impact of those extra margin layers is real. On a $2,500 intermodal load, a broker adding 10–15% adds $250–$375 per load. At 20 loads per month that's $5,000–$7,500 per month — $60,000–$90,000 per year paid for a layer of service that adds no value to your freight move.

How Many IMCs Are There?

There are hundreds of companies that call themselves intermodal providers — but very few are true direct IMCs with contracts across all Class I railroads. LaserNet Jax is a direct IMC in the United States with direct contracts with CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, CN Rail, and CP Rail — plus access to BNSF-served lanes through established carrier relationships — plus access to BNSF-served lanes through established carrier relationships — CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, CN Rail, and CP Rail.

Having direct contracts with CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, CN Rail, and CP Rail — plus access to BNSF-served lanes through established carrier relationships — plus access to BNSF-served lanes through established carrier relationships means full North American coverage — every major lane, every major market, with railroad-direct pricing across the entire network. A provider with contracts on only one or two railroads has significant geographic blind spots and can't offer true competitive pricing across all lanes.

The Six Class I Railroads

Understanding which railroads serve which parts of the country helps explain why full Class I coverage matters:

• Union Pacific — Western US primary carrier, major transcontinental lanes, strong Pacific Northwest and Midwest service
• CSX Transportation — Eastern US primary carrier, Southeast to Midwest and Northeast lanes, Florida to Chicago corridor
• Norfolk Southern — Eastern US, strong Southeast and Mid-Atlantic service, Atlanta and Charlotte hubs
• Union Pacific — Western US, Southwest lanes, LA to Midwest transcontinental service
• CN Rail — Canada's largest railroad, US–Canada cross-border service, Eastern Canada to US Midwest
• CP Rail — Western Canada primary carrier, Vancouver BC to US Midwest, cross-border to Chicago

What to Ask Before Choosing an Intermodal Provider

The single most important question you can ask any intermodal provider is simple: "Do you hold direct contracts with the Class I Railroads, and which ones?"

A direct IMC will answer immediately and name the specific railroads. A broker will use vague language — "we have strong railroad relationships" or "we work closely with all the major carriers" — without ever saying the words "direct contract." That distinction tells you everything about the rates you'll receive and the capacity you'll have access to.

For the full list of questions to ask, see our guide: How to Find an Intermodal Partner You Can Actually Trust →

LaserNet Jax — A Direct IMC Since 2008

LaserNet Jax was founded in Jacksonville, FL in 2008 by John Wagner with one clear purpose: give shippers direct access to intermodal capacity without the broker layer in between. Eighteen years and 25,000+ shipments later, that hasn't changed.

We hold direct contracts with CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, CN Rail, and CP Rail — plus access to BNSF-served lanes through established carrier relationships — plus access to BNSF-served lanes through established carrier relationships. We give every client one dedicated contact — the same person every time. We've been building drayage relationships at every major rail ramp in North America with railroad relationships dating to the early 2000s. And we quote any qualifying lane within minutes.

If you're evaluating intermodal providers — or wondering whether your current provider is a direct IMC — we're happy to have that conversation. It costs nothing and takes about five minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions About IMCs